Vacuum tube



1927' H. w. WEINHART VACUUM TUBE Filed April 1921 in the arrangement of the sup) Patented Apr. l2, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATIENT OFFICE.

HOWARD W. WBINHABT, OI ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOB TO WESTERN ELEC- rnrc coxrm, YORK.

mcoaronarnn, or NEW YORK, 1w. Y., A conroaarron or new vacuum runs.

Application filed April 9, 192. Serial No. 459,846.

This. invention relates to vacuum tubes and more especially to vacuum tubes of the audion type.

It is an object of this invention to provide an audion in which the electrodes are highly insulated from each other. This object is attained by employing an insulating member for supporting'the rid and anode, the points of support thereof being widely separated to rovide the desired insulation.

A furt er object of the invention resides orting means for the grid and anode where is prevented the formation of a leakage pat 1 between the electrodes by the deposit on the insulating member of metal vaporized from the anode during the manufacture of the tube. This object is accomplished by providing supporting arms for the electrodes, each ,of which is attached to the insulating member at a point thereon remote from that portion of the member in the path of metal vapor emanating from the anode.

Another objectv of the invention resides in the provision of means for preventing the formatlon of a. leakage path along the stem between the electrode leading in wires. To accomplish this ob'ect an insulating disc is arranged between t e stein and the electrodes to catch any vaporized metal projected from the anode, thereby preventing the formation of a metallicdeposit along the stem.

This invention will be better understood by having reference to the following specification and accompanying drawings, wherein the figure is an elevation, partly broken away, of an audion constructed. in accordance with this invention.

The vessel 1 is provided with a reentrant stem 2, in the upper portion of which is supported a rod 3 extending longitudinally of the press at the end of the stem.

the tube and havin an eye at its free end.

The cathode comprises a filament 4-. passing through the eye and supported therefrom, the ends of the filament being connected to the leading in wires 5 which are sealed in Arranged at diametrically opposite points on the stem 2 and. fused therein are studs 6 from which arms .7 extend longitudinally of the tube to a point about mid-way the ends thereof. Attached to the inner ends of the arms 7 are other studs 8 which are fused into the outer shell of a tubular member 9 at of t 1e glass known commercially as Pyrexfl which is capable of withstanding a temperature of approximately 600 C. without becoming electrically conductive. At the upper end ofthe member 9 are provided metallic arms 10 which are fused into the cylinder. These arms project outwardly from the exterior surface of the member 9 and then are bent over the end of the member 9 to extend toward the axis of said member. Arranged within the insulating member 9 is the tubular anode 11 from the upper end of which extend rods 12. These rods are welded to the inner ends of the arms 10 whereby the anode is rigidly supported from the insulating member 9. At the lower end of the insulating member 9 are provided arms 13 similar to the previously described arms 10. A grid electrode, comprisin the rods 14 to which rods is welded a Wire helix 15, surrounds the cathode and is supported in position by the arms 13 to which arms the lower ends ofthe rods 14' are welded. A leading in wire 16 is provided for the anode and is led out of the tube at the lower end thereof between the stem and the wall of the tube. A'leading in wire 17 similarly arranged at a point diametrically opposite the leading in wire 16 is provided for the grid. electrode. Carried by the upper end of the member 9 are the wires 18,'the ends of which are welded to the wires 19 fused into the tip of the bulb. These wires serve to support the member 9 against lateral movement.

Carried by the rod 3 is a glass plate 20.

which is arranged between the lower end of the anode 11 and the end of the stem 2, and which is of a diameter slightly in excess of that of the anode. The lead wires 5 for the cathode pass through and are sealed in this plate.

The anode 11 is preferably composed of nickel. During the evacuation of the tube, the anode is highly heated to drive off its occluded gases and it is quite possible that at the temperature to which the anode is raised, some of the nickel of the anode will be vaporized. and depositedupon the inner ill) wall of the insulating member 9, thereby creating ametallic path between the ends of said member. The arrangement of the arms 10 and 13 on the exterior surface of the tubular member 9 prevents the possibility of a. leakage path of vaporized metal being formed between the arms 10 and 13 as there will be no metal deposited on the exterior surface of the tube. The plate 20 acts as a shield to collect any vaporized nickel which may be projected from the anode, thus preventing the formation of a metallic path along the stem between the leading in wires 5 of the cathode and either the leading in wire 16 for the anode or the leading in wire 17 for the control electrode.

Thus, it is seen that the structural arrange ment of the electrodes and their supporting means is such as to provide a very high degree of insulation and to effectively prevent any leakage from one elect-rode to another. Further, this structural arrangement 1s such, that the electrodes are maintained firmly in the desired position relative to each other.

\Vhat is claimed is:

1. An electron discharge device comprising a vessel, a tubular insulating member, metallic means for supporting said member within said vessel out of contact therewith, and a plurality of electrodes within said member said electrodes being solely supported by said member.

2. A vacuum tube comprising a stem, arms rojecting from said stem, supports extendmg from said arms and supporting a tubular member, and electrodes within said tubular member, certain of said electrodes being supported by said tubular member.

3. A vacuum tube comprising a stem, metallic supporting elements projecting from said stem, a tubular insulating member carried by said elements, and electrodes within and supported by said insulating member.

a. An electron discharge device comprising a vessel, a tubular insulating member within said vessel, arms projecting from said member at opposite ends thereof, an electrode supported by the arms at one end of said member, and another electrode supported by the arms at the other end of said member.

5. An electron discharge device compris ing a vessel, a tubular insulating member Within said vessel, a plurality of electrodes within. said insulating member, and arms projecting from the exterior of said member and supporting said electrodes.

6. A vacuum tube comprising a tubular insulating member, an electrode within said tubular member, arms projecting from the exterior surface of the tubular member, said arms being bent over the end of the tubular member, and supporting connections between said electrode and said arms.

7. A vacuum tube comprising a tubular insulating member, electrodes within said tubular insulating member, arms at each end of said member, said arms projecting from the exterior surface of said member and being bent over the ends of the member, supporting connections between the arms at one end of the member and one of said elcctrodes, and supporting connections between the arms at the other end of said member and another of said electrodes.

8. A vacuum tube comprising a stem, electrodes mounted in the tube, leading in wires for one of said electrodes passing through said stem, leading in Wires for-the other electrodes passing through said tube at points exterior of said stem, and an insulating plate interposed between saidstem and the ends of the electrodes adjacent said stem, said plate having the leading in wires of said first mentioned electrode sealed therein.

9. A vacuum tube comprising a stem, electrodes mounted in the tube, leading in wires for one of said electrodes passing through said stem, leading in wires for the other electrodes passing through said tube at points exterior of said stem, and means between. said electrodes and the scaling in points of said leadin in wires for interee tin metal vaporized from said electrodes to prevent the formation of a conductive path between said scaling in points.

10. An electron discharge device comprising an evacuated vessel, a cathode, an anode and a control electrode, an insulating member surrounding said electrodes, connections from one end only of said member to said anode, and other connections from the opposite end only of said member to said con- 1.

trol electrode.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 7th day of April A. 1)., 1921.

HOWVARD W. WEIN HART. 

